Spotlighting Dr. Lori Shemek

To help us kick things off for National Nutrition Month, our ‘Cover Girl’ for this month of March, 2019 is Lori Shemek, Ph.D.

Who Is Dr. Lori Shemek?

Lori Shemek, Ph.D. is a leading fat cell researcher, health expert, weight loss expert, keynote speaker and recognized authority on inflammation and its role in weight loss, preventing disease and optimizing health. Dr. Shemek is the bestselling author of ‘How To Fight FATflammation!’ (HarperCollins) and the bestselling author of “Fire-Up Your Fat Burn!’

Dr. Lori Shemek, a health expert for the ABC TV show Good Morning Texas, has been featured on CBS The Doctors, CNN, NPR and Fox News TV and Radio and in Oprah Winfrey’s O Magazine, Dr. Oz’s Good Life Magazine, Health, Shape, Woman’s Day, Everyday Health, Prevention, Redbook, Ladies Home Journal, Business Insider, The Huffington Post and numerous others. She is the host of the popular podcast show ‘This Podcast Burns Fat!’

Dr. Shemek is known as “The Inflammation Terminator.” She has made it her mission to help clients lose weight and educate the public on the toxic effects of certain foods and lifestyle choices and how they create inflammation in the body resulting in weight gain and poor health.

The Huffington Post has recognized Dr. Shemek twice as one of the Top Health and Fitness Experts alongside such names as Dr. Oz and David Zinczenko author of ‘Eat This, Not That’ and the Huffington Post has also recognized her as one of the Top Diet and Nutrition Experts.

Dr. Shemek holds a Doctorate in Psychology; she is a Certified Nutritional Consultant and a Certified Life Coach.

Keynote Speaker:
U.S. Army, Joel Osteen/Lakewood Church, 92Y Kaufmann Symphony Hall, Global Health Summit – 2013, 2014, 2015, Osteoporosis Society, Weekly Fitness Challenge – Multi-State Tour; Chicago School Districts including many others.

Here is our ‘Spotlight Interview’ with Dr. Lori

Trainer Z: Hello and thank you Dr. Lori, for taking time out to share some of your positivity with TZelement MAG and our readers. Are there any projects you have coming up that we should be on the lookout for?
Dr. Lori: Thank you for asking! I am currently writing two books on the ketogenic diet, and an anti-aging book. I also am finishing up the final touches of my program called the ‘Body Essentia,’ it is going to be an invaluable up-leveling tool for health, mindset, habit creation and much more; so, you can begin to tell a different story – one that you choose to create (for a life you love).

Trainer Z: What’s the 1 word you would use to describe yourself, and why?
Dr. Lori: Compassionate. I had a very challenging early start in life, without much guidance. Therefore, I made quite a few mistakes, but learned along the way. When we can look back on what we previously thought were negatives and know they are really gifts in disguise, we can then be more compassionate and sensitive to others; which leads to less judgment, and more of a desire to be of service to others.

Trainer Z: What are some personal accomplishments you are most proud of?
Dr. Lori: Graduating from University. I was raised without an utterance of going to college; yet, I vowed to myself that I would. I’m also proud of my bestselling book ‘How To Fight FATflammation.” The book addresses not only weight loss, but inflammation as well. A life-long plan to optimize health. Inflammation is the core underlying cause of most illness, disease, faster-aging and weight gain. Learning about creating and managing a business keeps me humble and proud.

Trainer Z: If you were granted the authority to change 3 things in the world, what would they be?
Dr. Lori: Just three? Haha! I would change how we disseminate health and nutrition information – that would begin with our children at a very young age. I would eliminate toxic, highly processed foods in the world and watch all illness and disease rates fall. I would change humankind to be more thoughtful, kind and considerate, with less judgment.

Trainer Z: What positive message could you share with someone who’s struggling with low self-esteem and/or social acceptance?
Dr. Lori: I want them to know that we all are fearful at different times for different reasons. The difference is that one can be fearful or insecure, yet step into that fear. Remember that we are all children of God, and there is nothing that separates you from another person except your opinion of yourself. You have the power within you to create the life you love. Take that chance and know you are unique and amazing.

Trainer Z: Now let’s talk profession. Why do you feel that your profession is the ideal profession for you?
Dr. Lori: I grew up with a single mother, no father, we hadn’t any money and my mother suffered a constant stream of different health conditions. My mother’s choices: such as smoking a pack and a half of cigarettes a day, and allowing ‘sugar’ to be the main focus in her diet. She was very overweight and she was under chronic stress. Imagine raising three young children all alone, estranged from her family – in combination with her health conditions. This created a poor quality of life. Sadly, my mother passed away at the very young age of 36, leaving behind three young children with nowhere to go. My mother always felt as if she had no choice in life, as if this was the hand she was dealt. She inspired me to want to help others understand that they do have choices, and that they can make powerful changes. My mother and my love for the health, nutrition, and counseling guided me to where I am now.

Trainer Z: What are some professional career accomplishments you are most proud of?
Dr. Lori: Helping others is my dearest accomplishment. When I hear how I may have helped transform one life, it brings tears to my eyes. That is why I do what I do.

Trainer Z: What common myth about health can you dispel?
Dr. Lori: That saturated fat is unhealthy. There were many erroneous assumptions made in the 20th Century because heart disease had skyrocketed. It was presumed that saturated fat was the primary cause (by raising cholesterol); yet, this was not based on any experimental evidence in humans. Even though we now have plenty of research in humans showing these initial assumptions to be wrong, people are still (to this day) being told to avoid saturated fat in order to reduce the risk of heart disease. Saturated fat is healthy and necessary to promote immunity, brain health, liver health, nerve transmission… and yes, cardiovascular health.

Trainer Z: What common myth about fitness can you dispel?
Dr. Lori: A common myth about fitness, is that of spot reduction for belly fat. Many people believe (as they have been told) that doing crunches is the key to a flat belly. The truth is that abs are made in the kitchen. If you have a layer of fat from the foods you are choosing to eat (or consume in excess), no amount of ab work will show until you shrink those fat cells.

Trainer Z: Can you enlighten us about the ‘Carb to Body Fat’ correlation and what adversely can happen?
Dr. Lori: When there is an excess intake of carbs (on a consistent basis), there tends to be an overabundance of glucose, particularly of refined carbs such as sugar, white flour or white rice. When blood sugar (glucose) spikes, the hormone insulin is released to remove the excess sugar. While that’s a critical job, it can lead to insulin resistance and weight gain over time. When your cells become resistant to insulin, pre-diabetes and eventually type 2 diabetes can occur. Insulin is a fat-storage hormone and likes to keep it there.

Trainer Z: I am routinely informing my fitness training clients that one does not gain excess body fat from eating proteins and fats, can you lend credence to this?
Dr. Lori: Many people believe that eating fat makes you fat. Sounds logical, right? Unfortunately, it is one of those ‘myths’ I was referring to earlier – such as saturated fat contributing to cardiovascular disease. Eating any food in excess will, of course, lend itself to weight gain. However, fat and protein are metabolized very slowly as compared to carbohydrates keeping an individual fuller longer. I typically recommend a diet that is lower in carbohydrates (higher in protein and healthy fat). Keep in mind… healthy fat helps to burn fat.

Trainer Z: How important is it to regulate our food portion sizes more-so than following food serving sizes for losing excess body fat?
Dr. Lori: Portion control is key to successful weight loss and optimized health. However, depending upon what your way of eating is, you may have to add more fat to your diet, moderate protein and very little carbs such as with the keto diet, and thus – the food portions change and their isn’t a ‘serving size’ necessarily. It is important to remember that weight loss is hormone-based. Your hormones impact so many things, from your mood and energy levels—to yes, your weight. This is a key to understanding and creating successful dietary habits.

Trainer Z: Is there a sugar addiction reality, and if so, how can one begin the process of kicking the habit?
Dr. Lori: There is no dietary recommendation for sugar. Sugar addiction is real and many people are suffering needlessly from it. Research via brain imaging, shows that the brain lights up in the same areas when a person with a sugar addiction eats sugar – as compared to one who ingests cocaine.
I have successfully treated those with sugar addiction through my coaching and protocol. In short, we must remove all sugar sources from our environment. We need to be proactive, and this includes looking at ALL labels to determine hidden sugars. Many people say to me, they have dropped candies, cakes, cookies etc., but still crave sugar and it’s because there is still sugar in their food, salad dressings, mayo, ketchup, bread, yogurts and the list is huge. It is important to eat a healthy diet packed with protein and healthy fat, because as I mentioned earlier, these will not only keep you satiated, but will keep cravings at bay. Mild dehydration causes sugar cravings! Remedy? Drink adequate water. These are just a few tips to stop sugar’s grip on our psyche and health.

Trainer Z: Now, let’s talk exercise. Share with us some specific details about your current workout routine. What types of exercise, how many days per week do you exercise, and how long are your exercise/workout sessions?
Dr. Lori: I workout 6 days a week. I utilize the High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) protocol 3 days a week, and strength training 3 days a week. In addition, I also walk my dog for roughly 2 miles each day.

With the HIIT, I use the elliptical (30 seconds all out intensity, then 90 seconds moderate intensity – 8X). After that, I move to the second part of the workout; body weight training, such as push-ups, pull-ups, squats, jumping jacks and others. My total workout is just 30 minutes.

I also use body vibration training (5-10 min. a few times a week) via the Power Plate. It is excellent for many reasons including muscle building, promoting lymphatic flow, mitochondrial health and many other benefits.

Trainer Z: What foods do you generally consume within your typical day?
Dr. Lori: I eat a low carbohydrate diet which generally includes lots of veggies (such as broccoli, cauliflower, leafy greens), quality proteins such as fatty fish (wild salmon, trout, sardines), meats (grass-fed beef or lamb), poultry (such as pasture-raised chicken or turkey), and healthy fats (such as avocados, olive oil, nuts and seeds). I also do time-restricted eating, where I do not eat for 14 hours, which allows my cells to ‘detox’ (autophagy), and I do not do it for weight loss; yet, it can happen if one is overweight. Not eating is when the healthy ‘magic’ happens.

Personality and Lifestyle Questions for Dr. Lori

The questions and answers listed below will give us an insightful glimpse into Dr. Lori’s personality and lifestyle. How well can you relate to her?

  • Christmas or Thanksgiving? CHRISTMAS! I love both!
  • City Style or Country Style? City.
  • Camping Out or Hotels with Room Service? Hotels with Room Service.
  • Indoor Rock/Wall Climbing or Indoor Skydiving? Indoor Rock/Wall Climbing.
  • Boot Camp Workout Class or Yoga Class? Boot Camp.
  • Elliptical or Treadmill? Elliptical.
  • Paintings or Sculptures? Paintings (tough one!)
  • Coloring Book or Canvas Painting? Canvas Painting.
  • Crossword Puzzles or Jigsaw Puzzles? Crossword Puzzles.
  • Board Games or Card Games? Board Games.
  • Checkers or Chess? Checkers.
  • Comedy Club or Music Lounge? Comedy Club.
  • Jogging or Swimming? Jogging.
  • Nature Hikes or Skiing? Nature Hikes.
  • Jet Skiing or Snowmobiling? Jet Skiing.
  • Laser Tag or Paintball? Laser Tag.
  • Golf Course or Miniature Golf? Golf Course, even though I can’t golf, they are some of the most beautiful places in the world.
  • Bowling or Shooting Pool? Bowling.
  • Merry-Go-Rounds or Roller Coasters? Merry-Go-Rounds.
  • Bumper Cars or Pedal Boats? Bumper Cars.
  • Candle Light Dinners or Picnics? Candle Light Dinners.
  • Coffee or Tea? Coffee.
  • Apples or Oranges? Oranges.
  • Cherries or Grapes? Cherries.
  • Cold Cereal or Hot Cereal? Hot Cereal.

Trainer Z: There you have it folks, a bit of nutrition know-how from a woman who knows it and also shows it! Big thanks Dr. Lori and much success with your projects! … How can individuals, businesses, and organizations contact and/or connect with you either via website, email, and/or social media?
Dr. Lori: Please, feel free to reach out to me at: drlori@dlshealthworks.com. You can find out more about me on my website: drlorishemek.com. I have a free eBook ‘Metabolism Masterclass,’ that you can get when you sign-up for my monthly newsletter (packed with healthy information) that you can find on my website.
I am on Twitter: @LoriShemek
I am on Facebook: Dr. Lori Shemek
I am on Instagram: @LoriShemek